An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893
B.J. ELICH, Harbor Master at the port of Seattle, was born in Austria, in March,
1858. He attended school at Trieste until thirteen years of age, and then
shipped as apprentice on the Austrian bark "Cainan," owned by his uncle and
operating between Europe and America. He subsequently sailed on the "Desati" as
ordinary seaman, on the "Cebeli" as able seaman and on the "Reuben" as second
mate, continuing in Atlantic and European waters. He was discharged in New York
city, in June, 1878, then crossed the continent to Stockton, California, where
he had uncles residing. After a brief visit his passion for the sea took him to
San Francisco, where he shipped on the British vessel "Lockee" for Liverpool,
and followed the sea until taken sick in 1881. He then returned to Stockton and
later engaged in the hotel business at Fresno, California. In 1885 he was
appointed special inspector at the Custom House in San Francisco, and continued
in such incumbency for about nine months, after which he followed various
occupations at Fresno, San Diego and Bakersfield, and in August, 1889, came to
Seattle. His occupation was then quite varied in civil and political lines until
December 1, 1892, when he was appointed Harbor Master and Port Warden at
Seattle. His duties cover the moving of vessels, anchorage, surveys of cargoes,
and all interests connected with shipping in the port. He is unmarried,
Democratic in politics, and a member of the Masonic order.
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.